#PriceE-Books#CostE-books

This is just a short rant.

 Is anyone else puzzled over the retail price of e-books?

Many times I have gone in search of a title only to find that the e-book is the same price as the paper version. I don't understand.

E-books do not have anywhere near the costs of publishing a physical book, either paperback version or hard cover: cost of paper, cost of printing, cost of shipping, cost of storing, cost of returns and so on.

How, then, does the electronic version of a book cost the same?

Can someone please explain?

Denise

www.inktreemarketing.com

www.publishacookbook.com

#BookSponsors#HookBookToProduct

So many authors think of books as art, but even novels are a commercial product. The goal of publishing a book is to sell it. That makes the book a product of a business, with profit being the goal. Art is business.

Since the goal of publishing is to sell and make money, the author and the publisher must think of creative ways to sell the book. There is the all-important traditional route of selling to book stores, but there is the nontraditional route of selling to bulk buyers.

A good way to find commercial markets is to hook up with a product. This works especially well with nonfiction but it can also work with a novel. For instance, part of the story could take place at a hotel, resort, restaurant, cruise ship, or the character(s) could use a particular product. 

It's all up to your imagination and to you ingenuity.

Denise


www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com

#BookPromotion

Recently we talked about taking control of interviews. That's a necessary part of #promoting your book.

Another way to promote is to become a blabber-mouth. Talk about your book to everyone and I mean everyone. Be proud of your accomplishment. You worked hard to get that book into print, now get everyone you meet to want a copy. Drop the title name everywhere that you can.

A good way to promote is to always have book marks with you and hand them out to everyone you meet.. Did you know that you can get thousands of book marks for no cost if you have them printed on the excess space when the book covers are printed? Talk to your graphic designer about that little trick.

Get out for coffee and chat with everyone in line and give them a free book mark.

Have fun.

Denise


www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com

#Email#SubjectLine

Isn't it frustrating to send out an email only for your message to be ignored? What you say in the subject line can make a big difference. Don't try to deceive the email recipient - that's just annoying.

You can use words such as "free" but don't say that that you will offer a discount on whatever you have to offer or that you are reminding them of something. That just ensures a quick trip to the delete folder.

Be sincere but don't use the same words in the subject line, even if you have a conversation bouncing back and forth.  Keep the subject matter current.

Denise


www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com

#MediaInterviews

My son commented that he recently attended a media training seminar. My reply to him was, "The most important thing to do in an interview is to take control of the interview." He replied that was what the media coach instructed - dominate the interview.

Having been there many times, I can attest to the sage advice. It is amazing how often the interviewer has not researched you or your topic, or has no real understanding of your message, so the questions drift off topic or the questions do not point to your missive. You have to answer a question in a way that directs the conversation. This is especially true when the audience can call in. Many people just want to promote their own agenda. 

You can take control by saying, "I really can't comment on that, but I can tell you ......"

After one or two media sessions you will get a feel for it and begin to enjoy the process. It's very satisfying to connect with your audience.

Denise


www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com

#PublishingContract

A former client was awarded a #publishing contract so she asked me to review the document for her. While I'm not a lawyer, I can often spot deficiencies or clauses that can become a problem in the future.

One issue I noticed was that the publisher's standard contract referred to the expansion of some clauses in "Schedule A". Such additions to a contract should be avoided because they can create confusion if an issue arises. The judge will often dismiss the case if she/he finds that one party or the other is confused by the extra points. That may or may not work in your favor, so be sure to have the contract written without extra "schedules."

Another point that I noticed in my client's contract was that it did not address what would happen to the #book's electronic files and graphics if one or the other party (publisher or author) had a valid reason to cancel the contract. As the author, if you find that the publisher does not meet expectations, you want ownership of the files so that you can find another publisher if you so choose.

Generally speaking, most mid to large publishers are ethical, but #good contracts make good friends. 

Always have an independent, #intellectual property rights lawyer review your contract.

Better safe than sorry.

Denise


www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com

#BookCovers

Here is the most important question you need to ask yourself when designing your book cover: "What will buyers think of my book?"

You may think of the buyer as the person on the internet or the person in the book store. Of course, they are very, very important but they buy one book at a time.

The buyers that you need to impress most are the big guys: corporations, foreign rights agents, charities, local businesses, associations, etc., etc. In other words, the organizations that buy in large volume - nonreturnable. That is where you will make your money.

Book stores and media can give you fame but volume buyers can make your bank account grow. 

The importance of a professionally designed book (both inside and out) cannot be stressed enough. 

To quote a cliche, people do judge a book by its cover.

Denise

www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com

#PublishEbook

So you think that you can cut corners when publishing an ebook:

• don't worry about the quality of the writing
• don't worry about professional editing
• don't worry about excellent graphic design - a Word document is good enough
• don't worry about a professional cover - no one cares.

All wrong! Buyers are more sophisticated than you might think.

In the words of my beloved Father, who is no longer with us but left behind his wisdom:

Remember that in life, anything worth doing is worth doing well."

Contact us for help.

Denise

www.inktreemarketing.com

www.publishacookbook.com

#SellBooks

The topic of selling books comes up over and over, "Who will sell my book?"

To begin, what many authors and small publishers do not understand is this: a publisher is just another widget manufacturer. The only difference between a book and a vacuum cleaner is that one is made of paper and someone has filled the pages with words, while the other one is made of metal and picks up dust.  In the final analysis, though, a book is a consumer product, just like a vacuum cleaner.

Sales is what it's all about.

Every book and every vacuum cleaner requires a marketing and publicity plan, just like any other product that is sold online or in a retail location. Someone is required to manage the marketing and publicity. If you are the publisher, you are the head of the sales team and sometimes you are the only sales person.

Many times I have heard authors say, "I just want to write. I don't want to do publicity and I want someone else to sell my book." Sadly, then, your book will not sell. If no one knows about it, no one will buy it. Your most important role as an author is as a promoter. People want to hear about you. People want to see you. People want someone to tell them why they can't live without your book. 

The long and the short answer to who will sell your book is - YOU. 

Denise


www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com

#OptimizeWebsite#WebsiteOptimization

Everyone who has a book is aware that part of the book's marketing campaign is to have an accompanying website. 

The website allows the publisher to promote the benefits of the book, because that is what people are searching for on the internet. Rarely does someone find your book by its title or by the name of the author. The person browsing the internet is looking for information or for entertainment in a particular genre. All of which they will find on your website.

But what if they are not searching the internet on a computer? What if they are searching from and iphone or from a tablet? Is your website optimized for mobile devices?

Hmmmm.....

Our website is under revision. We had better take note.

Denise

www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com